Holcombe Grammar School
Holcombe Grammar School at a glance
Holcombe Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school in Chatham for students aged 11 to 18, with about 1060 pupils. Co-educational from September 2026, following a decision approved in November 2024 (Medway Council). It is part of The Thinking Schools Academy Trust. Year 7 places are given through the Medway Test, and the school has a sixth form.
For September 2026 entry it offered 179 places and was the first choice of 137 families — fewer than one for every place. 20% of all applications came from families in other council areas.
In 2024/25, 85% of its GCSE students achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths, against 45% across England’s state schools. Its A-level students averaged C+ per entry, and 10% achieved AAB or better including at least two facilitating subjects. 68% of sixth-form leavers went on to university (destinations measured in 2022/23).
Getting in: the 11+ and how places are given
- Test
- Medway Test
- Set by
- GL Assessment, for Medway Council
- What it covers
- English (including writing), maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning
How places are given
Medway Council sets a qualifying score aimed at about the top quarter of the year group. Qualifying makes a child eligible; places then follow each school's oversubscription criteria.
How to register and apply
Register with Medway Council in the summer term of Year 5. Medway primary pupils usually sit the test at school; others at a test centre. Name the schools on your secondary application by 31 October.
Admissions rules change each year. Check the school’s current admissions policy — area details last checked October 2026.
Scores needed for a place
| Entry | Measure | Applies to | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | Pass mark | All applicantsThe minimum score to be assessed as suitable for a Medway grammar school. Places then follow each school’s oversubscription criteria. | 481 |
| Sept 2025 | Pass mark | All applicants | 482 |
| Sept 2024 | Pass mark | All applicants | 492 |
Scale: Medway Test total weighted score (English and maths counted twice, reasoning once). Sources: Medway Council news, October 2025, Medway Council news, October 2024, Medway Test results: information for pupils assessed as grammar (2024). Scores change every year and depend on how many children apply — treat them as a guide, not a target.
How many families apply
| Entry | Places | 1st choices | 1st choices per place | All applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 | 179 | 137 | 0.8 | 968 |
| Sept 2025 | 179 | 137 | 0.8 | 733 |
| Sept 2024 | 150 | 110 | 0.7 | 632 |
| Sept 2023 | 150 | 134 | 0.9 | 630 |
| Sept 2022 | 148 | 119 | 0.8 | 570 |
| Sept 2021 | 147 | 116 | 0.8 | 681 |
Source: DfE, secondary school applications and offers. Places offered on National Offer Day; first preferences are families who put the school first on their council application.
Exam results
GCSE, 2024/25 · 150 pupils
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
Grade 4 or above in English and maths
Attainment 8 (average across 8 subjects)
| Year | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Attainment 8 | Progress 8 | EBacc points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 84.7% | 62.4 | — | 5.97 |
| 2023/24 | 86.1% | 59.9 | +0.15 | 5.67 |
| 2022/23 | 82.0% | 57.9 | +0.06 | 5.02 |
A level, 2024/25 · 124 students
- Average grade
- C+
- England: B-
- AAB or better*
- 10%
- England: 18%
- Value added
- +0.07
*AAB or better, with at least two in facilitating subjects. Value added compares students’ results with others who started from similar GCSEs; above 0 is better than expected.
Source: DfE school and college performance tables. England figures are for all state-funded schools. Progress 8 was not published for 2024/25.
Where students go next
- University
- 68%
- Apprenticeship
- 4%
- Employment
- 15%
- Any sustained destination
- 88%
Source: DfE 16–18 destination measures, students who left after A levels or equivalent, destinations measured in 2022/23 (170 students). Categories overlap slightly and do not sum to 100%.
Key facts
- Admits at 11
- Co-educationalCo-educational from September 2026, following a decision approved in November 2024 (Medway Council).
- Ages
- 11–18
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Pupils
- 1,060 (capacity 1,000)
- Free school meals
- 12.7% of pupils eligible
- School type
- Academy converter
- Trust
- The Thinking Schools Academy Trust
- Local authority
- Medway
- Constituency
- Chatham and Aylesford
From the Department for Education’s register (URN 136594), October 2026.
Thinking about Holcombe Grammar School?
See where your child stands with our free 15-minute 11+ readiness check — a score for Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, judged against their year.